The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has tempered expectations ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that it may not be able to deliver a completely flawless electoral process despite ongoing reforms and preparations.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, made the candid admission on Sunday while addressing stakeholders at a Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting on the Electoral Act 2026, organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Abuja.
Acknowledging the high public demand for perfection in Nigeria’s electoral system, Prof. Amupitan appealed for understanding and realistic expectations.
“Let me just appeal to Nigerians because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election,” he said. “INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election; however, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now.”
The chairman stressed the commission’s commitment to continuous improvement under the provisions of the new Electoral Act, including enhanced transparency and technological upgrades.
On the long-standing controversy surrounding electronic transmission of election results, a major point of criticism following the 2023 general elections, Prof. Amupitan dismissed transmission capability itself as the core issue.
“I don’t see the issue of transmission as a problem,” he clarified. “The problem is not the network but the adequacy of the networks Nigeria has.”
He expressed confidence that previous technical challenges, particularly those affecting the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), had been resolved. The commission, he added, is now better equipped to handle electronic transmission and plans to conduct mock exercises to further strengthen the system.
Prof. Amupitan described credible, transparent, and inclusive elections as the “lifeblood of democracy” and called on all stakeholders, political parties, civil society, security agencies, and the public, to collaborate with INEC to build greater trust in the electoral process.
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